Page 279 - Politics
New defence minister reviews security situation in valley
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Monday on his maiden visit to Srinagar after assuming charge reviewed security situation in the Kashmir valley. Singh was accompanied by the Chief of Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat, andthe Northern Army Commander, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh. They were received by Lt Gen K J S Dhillon, Chinar Corps Commander in Srinagar. The defence minister was briefed in detail about the situation on the Line of Control and the hinterland, besides the successful anti-terror operations, a defence spokesperson said. He said the minister Singh was apprised of "the great synergy and close coordination" among all government agencies for bringing back normalcy in the region. He was also apprised of the ongoing preparations for smooth conduct of the upcoming Amarnath Yatra. Lauding the "valour, sacrifice and patriotic fervour of every soldier serving in these challenging situations for national integrity", Singh said the country was proud of its soldiers. He urged all to continue ...
Trump, Melania meet Queen as three-day state visit commences
US President Donald Trump called on Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on Monday as he landed here on a three-day state visit to strengthen the bilateral ties overshadowed by the Brexit crisis and his hostility with London's Pakistani-origin mayor whom he termed "nasty" and a "stone cold loser". The 93-year-old monarch welcomed the US President and the First Lady at Buckingham Palace with a ceremonial guard of honour welcome ceremony, which was followed by a private lunch at the palace in central London. Trump and Melania were received by Prince Charles after their helicopter Marine One landed on the West Lawn of the palace on Monday afternoon. As the Trumps landed, they were greeted with two 41-gun salutes fired simultaneously in The Green Park by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery and at Tower of London by the Honourable Artillery Company. Apart from meeting members of the Royal Family, President Trump is expected to discuss climate change and Chinese technology firm Huawei
Future of Merkel's govt in hands of crisis-hit SPD
Germany's Social Democrats could end up deciding if the country faces snap elections, the leader of Angela Merkel's party said Monday, after her junior coalition partner sank into chaos over the resignation of its leader. In a surprise announcement that rattled Berlin, Social Democratic Party (SPD) leader Andrea Nahles said Sunday she was quitting her party's top jobs following an European election drubbing late last month. Merkel and other heavyweights in her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) have sought to calm nerves, saying they stood by the coalition. But CDU chief Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer conceded Monday that whether Germany goes to the polls before the end of the electoral term in 2021 would depend on the SPD's next move. "We are ready to keep this coalition going. How the SPD behaves is its decision," she told journalists following crisis talks within her centre-right party. "There are good reasons to not end a government lightly, from the view of the situation in Germany but
JD(U) executive meet on June 9
The national executive of the JD(U) will meet in Patna on June 9, days after the party declined to be part of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre in protest against the "symbolic representation" of one ministerial berth offered to it. JD(U) spokesperson K C Tyagi on Monday said the national executive meeting was necessitated as the party had to complete its organisational election and other procedures by October, in line with the Election Commission's (EC) directives. "Not much politics should be read into it," he said. Though JD(U) president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has refuted suggestions of any difference with its ally, but his decision to induct eight legislators of his party as ministers in his government while leaving out the BJP has fuelled speculation of acrimony between the two parties. Tyagi also asserted that his party was and would remain part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). He was responding to a question about senior RJD leader ...
Anti-Gandhi tweets: Maharashtra IAS officer transferred
The Maharashtra government on Monday transferred Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Joint Municipal Commissioner (Special) Nidhi Choudhari to Mantralaya, and served her a show-cause notice, official sources said here.
BJP must be ready for 'dhokha no. 2' from Nitish Kumar: Upendra Kushwaha
Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) leader Upendra Kushwaha on Monday hit out at Bihar Chief Minister and JDU leader Nitish Kumar and warned the BJP that it should remain prepared for "dhokha no 2" (deception) from its ally (Nitish Kumar)."I want to tell the BJP, Nitish Kumar is known for disrespecting public mandate. Deceiving public and alliance partners is his old habit. So BJP must be ready for 'dhoka no. 2.' It has been said about him 'aisa koi saga nahi jinko Nitish ji ne thaga nahi.' These words will become reality in few days due to his actions," Kushwaha said while addressing a press conference here.Terming the attitude shown by Nitish Kumar and his party JDU after the election results as "laughable", the RLSP leader said, "He (Nitish Kumar) is saying that we will not join the Union Council of Ministers. People were dressed up. They were ready with bouquet and sweets and when things did not materialise, they are saying that we will not join the ministry."He was addressing the ..
India slams OIC for references to J-K in its Makkah summit declaration
India on Monday rejected as "unacceptable" the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's reference to Jammu and Kashmir in a communique adopted at its summit meeting in the holy city of Makkah last week. In a strong reaction, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the OIC has no locus standi in matters relating to Jammu and Kashmir and asserted that the state is an integral part of India. He also said the OIC should refrain from making such "unwarranted references". In its final communique at the Makkah summit, the OIC reiterated its support for the legitimate rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and even appointed a special envoy for the state. The OIC is an international organisation consisting of 57 member states, 53 of them Muslim-majority nations. "We categorically reject yet another unacceptable reference to matters internal to India in the Final Communiqu adopted at the conclusion of the 14th Islamic Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation ...
Govt revises draft education policy; drops compulsory Hindi teaching
Revising its draft education policy, the Centre Monday dropped the contentious provision of compulsory teaching of Hindi in non-Hindi speaking states after the three-language proposal sparked outrage, mainly in Tamil Nadu. The DMK and other parties in Tamil Nadu, which had strongly opposed the proposal in the 484-page draft National Education Policy(NEP) to make Hindi a mandatory third language to be taught in schools across the country, welcomed the Centre's decision. The parties had alleged that the move was tantamount to thrusting the Hindi language on the non-Hindi speaking states. "Students who wish to change one or more of the three languages they are studying may do so in Grade 6 or Grade 7, so long as they are able to still demonstrate proficiency in three languages (one language at the literature level) in their modular Board Examinations some time during secondary school," the revised draft of the NEP said. In the earlier draft, the panel proposed mandatory teaching of Hindi
Britain's Ineos to invest USD 2 billion in Saudi plants
British petrochemicals maker Ineos is investing USD 2 billion to build three plants in Saudi Arabia, as western companies appear to be shedding their reluctance to do business with the kingdom following the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents in Turkey last year. Global outcry over the killing of Khashoggi, a critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, prompted leading Western CEOs and officials to back out of the prince's flagship investment forum in October. The US Congress has blocked about USD 2 billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia in the past year, although the Trump administration is trying to work around Congress to supply arms to the kingdom. The new Saudi plants are part of a partnership with Saudi Aramco and France's Total.
Kashmir is a political problem and needs political redressal: Mehbooba Mufti
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said Kashmir is a political problem needing a political redressal and the new Home Minister Amit Shah expecting a "quick fix" through brute force is "ridiculously naive"."Since 1947, Kashmir has been looked through the prism of security by successive governments. It's a political problem that needs a political redressal by involving all stakeholders including Pakistan. Expecting a quick fix through brute force by newly appointed HM is ridiculously naive," she tweeted.Mufti lost in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections from the Anantnag parliamentary constituency.Amit Shah on Saturday took charge as Home Minister in the Modi government. He will have to address issues like scrapping the special status of Kashmir under Article 370 of the constitution, an issue dear to the party and the Sangh Parivar for long and a promise included in the manifesto during the recent elections.Shah's first responsibility .
SDF to boycott assembly proceedings till Golay remains CM
Former chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling on Monday said his party, the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), will boycott assembly proceedings till P S Golay, his newly-elected successor, remains in office. He also said that the SDF is mulling challenging Golay's appointment as chief minister, but stopped short of elaborating on it. "Golay is ineligible to occupy any constitutional post after being disqualified from doing so," Chamling told reporters in reference to his disqualification as an MLA, after he was convicted in a corruption case in 2016. The SDF chief said that all decisions taken by the chief minister or his ministers will be deemed illegal, as his appointment itself was unconstitutional. Earlier in the day, Chamling had led his party MLAs to boycott the inaugural sitting of the 10th Sikkim Legislative Assembly in protest against Golay holding the chief minister's post. Five-time chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling's era ended in Sikkim after over 24 years in ...
Yeddyurappa suffers setback in home turf in urban local body
In a setback to state BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa, the Congress has won majority of wards in his constituency of Shikaripura in Shivamogga district, in the town municipal council poll there for which results were declared Monday. Of 23 wards in Shikaripura that went to polls Saturday, the Congress has won in 12, the BJP 8 and independents in 3. The BJP's performance has not been that good in other Uurban Local Bodies (ULB)s of Shivamogga district, considered as its bastion. In Shiralakoppa town panchayat, the Congress has won in 7 out of 17 wards that went to polls, while the BJP managed 2, the JD(S) 3 and Independents 5. In Hosanagara town panchayat, of 11 wards, the Congress and BJP managed to win 4 each, the JD(S) 3. In the district's Soraba town panchayat and Sagara municipal council, BJP's performance is somewhat better. While the BJP won 6 of 12 wards in Soraba, the Congress has won 4, JD(S) and independents have won in one each. In Sagara of 31 wards, the BJP bagged ..
TN, T'gana welcomes Centre dropping Hindi norm in draft policy
The Centre dropping the contentious clause of mandatory Hindi teaching in non-Hindi speaking states was Monday welcomed by Tamil Nadu parties including main opposition DMK, celebrity music composer A R Rahman and the Congress in Telangana. The DMK said the decision showed that late party patriarch M Karunanidhi was "living," apparently suggesting it was a success to the late leader's legacy of opposing "imposition" of Hindi. A revised draft education policy was issued Monday that did not have a mention of Hindi being compulsory amid controversy over the recommendation of an HRD Ministry panel to teach the language in non-Hindi speaking states. In a tweet in Tamil, Rahman said, "A beautiful solution. Hindi is not compulsory in Tamil Nadu. The draft (policy) was amended." The top music director also had placed emoji of the national flag, and a rose welcoming the Centre's move. Founder leader of PMK, S Ramadoss in a tweet said the Centre's announcement was a thing of joy. ..
BJP will find "alternative" if Cong-JDS govt collapses on its
The BJP as the single largest party in Karnataka would find an "alternative" if the ruling Congress-JD(S) coalition collapses on its own, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers D V Sadananda Gowda said Monday. Asserting that there would be no politics on development, he said ministers from Karnataka in the Modi administration would work in the interest of the state. "Let them (Congress-JDS) do whatever they want here (in the state), we are in favour of the development of the state, we will not make any attempts to topple this government. If it falls on its own, we are not responsible," Gowda said. Speaking to reporters here, he said, "if they (Congress- JDS government) fall on their own, we as a party, as a single largest party- it is our responsibility to find an alternative.With that political view we are working." Dismissing the charge that the BJP was trying to weaken the coalition government, the saffron party's state president B S Yeddyurappa too on Friday had
Modi will do yoga in Ranchi on World Yoga Day
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will do yoga on World Yoga Day on June 21 in Ranchi.
Poor organisation behind Congress loss: MP Minister
Madhya Pradesh Cooperative Minister Govind Singh on Monday blamed Congress' poor organisation for the party's loss in the just concluded Lok Sabha elections.
Issue-based support to NDA govt: MNF MP Lalrosanga
Ruling MNF leader and the lone Lok Sabha MP from Mizoram C Lalrosanga Monday said he would give issue-based support to the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre. According to a press statement issued by the Mizo National Front (MNF) Lalrosanga will, however, strongly oppose the government on any issue detrimental to the interests of Mizoram and the integrity of the country. Lalrosanga said he would support the Narendra Modi government on issues which are good for the country in general and for the Mizo people in particular. "However, I will oppose the proposed Citizenship Amendment Bill tooth and nail if the central government continues to strive for its legislation without giving necessary exemption to Mizoram and the north-eastern states," he told party workers. Legislation of the Citizenship Amendment Bill was the main plank of the opposition Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) and the Congress combine which had fielded Independent candidate Lalnghinglova Hmar against Lalrosanga. While ...
Jitendra Singh chairs review meeting with officials of DoNER, NEC
The Union Minister of State (MoS) for Development of North Eastern Region (Independent Charge) Dr Jitendra Singh on Monday chaired a review meeting with the officials of Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and North Eastern Council (NEC) and said that development of the region was a priority for the Modi government ."Development of the northeastern region has been the priority for the Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Singh said at the meeting here.He added that the government will make all efforts to implement the projects and the ministers would soon start their visit to the region to see the ground realities and challenges firsthand."The Government will make all efforts for the implementation of ongoing development projects in North East and will take measures to introduce new projects for the benefit of people of North East. The ministers will soon start their visits to the Northeast region to have first-hand knowledge and see ...
Mamata raises questions over EVMs, asks opposition to demand return of ballot papers
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday raised questions over voting machines used in the Lok Sabha elections and urged opposition parties to unitedly demand the return of ballot papers for polls. Banerjee said a fact-finding committee should be constituted to find out the details about EVMs. "We have to save the democracy. We dont want machines, we demand a return to the ballot paper system. We will start a movement and it will be initiated from Bengal," she told reporters after a meeting with party MLAs and state ministers to review TMC's drubbing in the elections. "I will ask all the 23 political parties in the opposition to come together and demand the return of ballot papers. Even a country like the US has banned EVMs," she said. The Trinamool Congress supremo alleged that BJP has used money, "muscle", institutions, media and the government to win the elections. The BJP managed to win 18 out of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state because of the Left Front, she ...
'Free ride scheme' an attempt to misled people: Manoj Tiwari
Hours after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced free ride for women in DTC buses, cluster buses and metro trains, BJP state unit chief Manoj Tiwari on Monday questioned the timing of the scheme and called it as another attempt to mislead people."Delhi's 'ghoshnamantri' has made new announcements. He has been labelled as 'nakampanthi'. They deceived people with 70 promises. It has been 52 months of AAP government and they have only eight months left. Suddenly, they thought of announcing new schemes otherwise they would lose their ground in Delhi," he told reporters in a press conference here."We are not opposing the idea but something that couldn't even be started in 52 months, how can it be done in 5-6 months? Arvind Kejriwal is only trying to deceive people," he added.The decision comes ten days after the ruling AAP suffered a massive defeat and lost all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi in the general elections. The party contested 40 seats across nine states and Union ...